Allow Cookies!
By using our website, you agree to the use of cookies
The Single Judge Bench, comprising Justice Ananda Sen, of the Jharkhand High Court encountered a situation that is most extraordinary - the court records of a case have been missing for over 20 years now.
The Court came across this situation when hearing a plea to dispose off a matter pending in a subordinate court since 1987. The Court had ordered the Judicial Commissioner of Ranchi to submit a report on the same in 2015. But it was not until July 2016 that the Judicial Commissioner of Ranchi submitted the report. In the report, The Judicial Commissioner informed the Court that the records of the case are missing and cannot be traced.The records are for a case where a murder took place in 1987 and the record itself vanished in 1999. The records, that have gone missing, are those of an accused who has both been accused and convicted in a number of cases.
When the Court attempted to know the progress in looking for the records and what measures had been taken against the custodian of the records, they were met with disappointment.
The Court made the observation that it is appalling that nothing had been done to recover records that have been missing for over 20 years now. The Court also addressed that the officials who were given the task to investigate this matter further had shown a lackadaisical attitude.
The Court further stated that it is a serious matter and hence should be given priority. On this ground, the Court set up a one man fact finding committee and placed GK Roy, Retired Principal District & Sessions Judge, at its head to investigate this matter. The Court directed this committee to look into who was responsible for losing the records and why such a lackadaisical attitude by judicial officers was entertained. The Court also directed the committee to present its report within 45 days in a sealed cover.
86540
103860
630
114
59824